PAIN!! Is this an Abscess tooth?? Bad swelling?!


Question: I think I have an abscess tooth.
The pain started on the 22nd
At first I thought a wisdom tooth was pushing its way through because the gum behind my last molar on the left was sore. Then it became slightly inflamed both my parents said don't worry let it do its thing.
Now its the 27th and my gum is so swollen I can't close my teeth together so I can't eat. Also if i press down on it, in between the tooth and the gum with a q-tip some pus comes out.

My dentist is closed till Jan. 2 I have called all surrounding dentist and none take my insurance. I am going to my doctor tomorrow to see if i can get any atibiotics. If not I will go to the hospital.

Does that sound abscess and what can i do to relieve this pain and swelling???


Answers: I think I have an abscess tooth.
The pain started on the 22nd
At first I thought a wisdom tooth was pushing its way through because the gum behind my last molar on the left was sore. Then it became slightly inflamed both my parents said don't worry let it do its thing.
Now its the 27th and my gum is so swollen I can't close my teeth together so I can't eat. Also if i press down on it, in between the tooth and the gum with a q-tip some pus comes out.

My dentist is closed till Jan. 2 I have called all surrounding dentist and none take my insurance. I am going to my doctor tomorrow to see if i can get any atibiotics. If not I will go to the hospital.

Does that sound abscess and what can i do to relieve this pain and swelling???

You're on the right track so far. When you go to the doctor and get antibiotics ask for some pain medication as well. The antibiotics will help with the swelling, until you can get pain medication take Ibuprofen.Your discomfort won't go completely away until either the tooth comes out or you have a root canal treatment done on it. When you see your dentist he or she will help you make the appropriate decision for your situation. You can also start some warm salt water rinses, that will help a little as well.

Hi there

It definitely sounds like an abcess, or infected tooth. What you should do is head to a dentist or the hospital for treatment as they can be very painful and if left untreated can infect surrounding teeth.
For pain medication, take something which is an anti-immflamatory drug, or a regualr pain reliever. Put ice over the place on your cheek where the pain is and this will help to numb the area.

Good luck and I hope that you get better soon!

You may have a pericoronal abscess and not an abscess at the apex (tip of the root). The latter would require antibiotics and probably root canal treatment.

If it's a pericoronal abscess due to your wisdom tooth trying to erupt, start rinsing with warm salt water and don't avoid the area when you brush. You may need to have the tooth extracted sooner than you think.........but at least you'll feel better!

Some insurance companies will honor Emergency Visits to a dentist who is out of network... call your insurance company and find out... don't let 'no one takes my insurance' be the reason you don't get dental treatment for this asap...

Best of luck to you!

Please listen to my advice, it could save your LIFE. Go to the nearest ER NOW.--Not tomorrow. NOW. And please let your parents read this if they have to take you or give you permission to go.---A tooth that is abscessed is considered a medical emergency nowadays..Why? Because an abscessed tooth that is left untreated FREQUENTLY leads to a BRAIN ABSCESS. The swelling eventually runs out of room in your jaw and starts to spread--in every direction, not just DOWN your neck. It will spread UP as well and into your brain,and then can kill you. I am a registered nurse and I wirked in trauma center (ER) and treated a child that was brought in unconcious after complaining of a headache and toothache for a day or two proir to him losing conciousness. He had an abscessed tooth and he died within 2 hours of arriving at the ER because the infection had spread to his brain. Sometimes,depending on the infection and location of the abscessed tooth, it can spread to the brain rapidly--and sometimes it may even take a couple of weeks. Once it starts making it's way to your brain, it is usually TOO LATE. So, PLEASE DON'T WAIT ANY LONGER. Please, please, go to the nearest ER. The doc there will likely prescribe you an antibiotic, plus pain medicine if you need it (the pain med). ----If the parents are reading this--is it worth the risk of something happening then you wishing forever that you'd just taken your child to the ER?? No, it isn't.------Once you start taking an antibiotic, you should be FINE then.

Sounds like you have an abscess. I had one as well and im 7mos pregnant! I was in terrible pain and I had to put an ice pack on my face to reduce the pain because the tylenol wasnt strong for me and since im pregnant the dentists were afraid to prescribe me anything, so i was told to go to my doctor or just go into the emergency room. Well this was aroung 8pm so of course I had to go into the emergency room. Which was great because the doctor looked at my swollen gum and said I was RIGHT..It was an abscess and she prescribed me some penicilin, which is safe for me since I am pregnant. She actually gave me to and told me to take it b4 i left the hospital and then she gave me the prescription to get the rest filled the next day. So your doctor will either prescribe penicillin for you or amoxicillin for you. and it should be taken 4x's a day for 7days. It needs to be taken the same time everyday because its fighting the infection! Hope that helps hun!





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